Happy Father’s Day from Interweave!

We are reflecting on crafts today, as we consider everything we have made for Dad over the years to wish him a Happy Father’s Day. From macaroni art to clay ashtrays (wait, was that just me?), to wood shop projects, to personalized random objects. I lobbed the below question to our staff:

“What do you distinctly remember making for your dad that had some kind of impact?”

The answers were mindful and funny – and some of them had absolutely nothing to do with yarn. And that’s okay, right? Because when it comes to handmade presents – you have already won the gift-giving game by putting that much more thought into it.

Deb Gerish, Editor of Love of Knitting

“I made stuff with my dad, as well as for him. My crafting life began at a very early age; by high school, counted cross-stitch took up all my spare time. Dad’s job – which he still talks about 35 years later – was to make frames out of decorative moulding for all my finished projects.”

Louisa Demmitt, Instructional Designer

“I started making my dad handkerchiefs when I was in high school. He was always talking about how the ones in stores were chintzy and too thin and just not what he needed, so I bought some heavier quilting cotton and got to work. I don’t really know how to sew, but straight seams I can handle.

Most years he gets a few more, lately in funky patterns that are eye-catching and therefore more difficult to lose. Most of the time he knows exactly what is in the box I give him, but he still opens each one with great gusto and says “Oh boy, handkerchiefs!” And I think he’s genuinely excited, which makes me ridiculously happy.”

Meghan Babin, Editor of Interweave Knits & knit.wear

“I call my dad the Rhode Island cowboy–he listens to country music, has cowboy boots, belt buckles, and has always dreamed about living “Out West.” Imagine a Peter Griffin accent coming out of a big guy dressed up for the National Western Stock Show and that will give you a good picture of my pop’s. It’s endearing and hilarious.

He loves Colorado, loves that I live here, and wants to move here himself, but for the time being he’s stuck in New York pining for the open plains and Rocky Mountains. I made him a Colorado flag hat last year to tide him over until he can visit again.”

Tamara Schmiege, Web Producer

“I made this moose thing a couple of years ago, a wall hanging for my dad’s house in Northern Michigan. He loves the woods and is a hunter – and we have tried to lean more toward humor now when we give him gifts. He is really hard to shop for! When I saw this moose, it just spoke to me. I chose fabric from a local store and had a lot of fun picking out the elements of this design. He still has it hanging in his home office and I get such a kick out of the fact that he has it on display!”

My dad’s humor hasn’t always been conducive to my people-pleasing personality. I remember gifting him an abstract image that I had worked on with pastels and framed for him. It was this swirly mix of blue and yellow, not quite combining to create green, but worked onto the paper in a way where the colors stood out from one another. His exact reaction was, “What is this supposed to be?” I was crushed. I was nineteen-years-old at the time.

The truth is that I could never go wrong if I provided my father with something practical that was actually of use to him. I made him a clay ashtray when I was seven. I can see that ashtray now – not a perfect circle, but misshapen and a little lumpy. Kind of blue, but also kind of gray – it was not the most attractive thing that sat on our coffee table when I was a kid. But he did keep it out long enough for me to remember it.

And about that drawing that I did for him using pastels – it’s hanging in one of the spare bedrooms at his condo. He may still not know what it is “supposed to be” – but he held onto it and it is a part of the backdrop of his life. I’ll take it.

In whatever way you are able to make it a Happy Father’s Day – whether by crafting or just giving the gift of your time – we hope you enjoy it with someone that you love.

All our best from Way Out West –

Jenn Rein
Web Producer